A case report of pilocytic astrocytoma mimicking meningioma on imaging

Pilocytic astrocytoma (PA) is categorized as grade I gliomas with a good prognosis. Although PA mostly occurs in the cerebellum, it also can occur in the orbital and mostly presents as a cystic tumor with a mural nodule. PA often presents in the second decade of life, with 75% occurring under the age of 20 years. This case report describes a 10-year-old boy presented a left eye tumor for over 3 years. MRI examination showed unrestricted intraconal lesions in the optic nerve, visible from the optic canal to the anterior with well-defined borders. The excised tumor specimen depicted a nodular tumor tissue, measuring 35 × 28 × 20 mm, weighing 11 grams, solid with gray and white. The microscopic examination showed a classical biphasic pattern including combinations of loose glial tissue and compact pyloid tissue. Hispathology result revealed a pilocytic astrocytoma.